William blackburn



2Sheets--Sheet1. WILLIAM BLACKBURN.

Improvement in School-Desks. N0.12-7,839. Patented June H, 1872.

Witnem as I Iwen 30;

WILLIAM BLACKBURN, OF MANCHESTER, GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPRQVEMENT lie SCHOQL-SESKS.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 127,839, dated June 11, 1872.

- is a specification lmturc and Objects of the Detention.

My invention relates to convertible desks or tablesthat is, to such desks or tables as are so constructed as that the board constituting the top of the said desk or table may be read ily moved into such a position as to become suitable to act as a back to the seat or form with which the said desk or table is connected.

Description of the Drawing.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 are end elevations of one of my improved desks, showing the top in the various positions in which it may be used. Fig. 4 is a back view of a portion of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a desk, showing a modification of the arrangement of the slot and pin for operating the desk-top.

General Description.

In the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4, the desk is supported by standards a, which may be of cast-iron, and the top board I) is connected to the upper part of each standard by means of two links, 0 c, which are placed one on each side of the standard, and are each jointed by one end to a rib, d, secured to the under side or back of the said top I), and by the other end to the said standard; and the said top board is further connected by a pin, e, fixed to the standard, and which pin enters the slot f formed in the rib d. One, two, or more of the said standards is or are used in the construction of each desk, according to the length thereof, or as may be re quired. A form or seat, g, is or may be connected with the said desk, and each of the standards sustaining the said form is, by preference, attached to or formed in one piece with one of the standards a. When the top I) is in the horizontal or level position shown 7 in F1 1, the said top may be used as a table, the flanch of the rib d resting on the top of the standard. When required to be used as a desk with a sloping top, the back part or edge of the top I) (which part is to the right hand in Fig. 1) is raised into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the support It is turned upward, in order to sustain the said top in a sloping position. \Vhen required to act as a bench, having a back against which individuals sitting on the form may lean, the said back part is further raised, the links 0 c swiveling around the stud 0 and the slot f sliding on the pin e until the said rib d bears against the front of the upper part of the standard, the parts then assuming the positions as, or nearly as, represented in Figs. 3 and 4. In the arrangement illustrated by Fig. 5, the slot f is formed in the standard, and the pin e is fixed in lugs projectin g from the rib d, which is fixed to the back of the desk-top b, as in the case of the aforesaid rib d. The links 0 c assist in connecting the said desk-top with the upper part of the standard, and act in a similar manner to the aforesaid links 00. A book-shelf, m, is

shown as fixed below the desk-top in both of the examples illustratedi'n the drawing. When desired, two rollers may be placed with their back edges in juxtaposition, forming together a table with a seat on each side thereof.

Claims.

purpose specified.

. WM. BLACKBURN.

Vvitnesscs:

EDWARD K. DU'rroN, HUGH G. GRANT. 

